Emergency door apparatus



June 10, 1947. R, A M|| ER 2,421,900

` EMERGENCY DOOR APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l June1o,1947. R.'A M|L| ER 2,421,900 Q EMERGENCY DOOR APPARATUS Filed March 28; 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 {oaf/Q7' j l MILL ER June 10, 1947.

R. A. MILLER EMERGENCY DOOR APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 5 June1o,'1947. Y R A M1L| ER 2,421,900

EMERGENCY DOOR APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 www Patented June 10, 1947 EMERGENCY DOOR APPARATUS Robert A. Miller, Tarentum, Ia., assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 28, 1945, Serial No. 585,309

8 Claims.

This invention relates to door structures, and it has particular relation to emergency doors, including mechanism for unlocking doors automatically from the inner sides thereof while permitting normal locking and unlocking oi the doors from either side thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved lock operating mechanism which can be actuated to lock or unlock a door from either side thereof andvwhich is always responsive to emergency unlocking operation from the inner side of the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved door lock which has at least two sets of control mechanisms cooperable therewith, whereby the door can always be locked or unlocked manually with a key and the lock is a1- ways responsive to emergency operation automatically by a person approaching the door from the inside of the building in which it is installed.

In certain types of buildings, such as theaters or other places where crowds assemble, it is Voften desirable, or required Eby law, to provide emergency doors which cannot ordinarily be entered from the outside but can always be opened automatically from the inside of the building. The invention is directed to this type of door which includes lock controlling mechanism installed for automatic operation when a person approaches it from inside the building and which always responds merely by stepping upon a treadle. The mechanism is of such character that it cannot be locked against automatic action from the inside. However, the door can be locked or unlocked at will so that the building is inaccessible from the outside except by the operation of a key,

In one form of mechanism in which the invention has been embodied, a locking bolt is provided with an actuator which has at least two sets of devices operable in separate phases and both sets normally remain disengaged from the actuator. By operating an emergency treadle the lock actuator will unlock the door or doors and will automatically return to a position of disengagement to permit unobstructed operation of the setting or locking mechanism, which either locks or unlocks the door as desired. The setting mechanism can be operated by means of a key and gearing which transmits movement from a key operated lock in the door to the setting mechanism in the frame, but is disengaged therefrom upon opening the door. The movement from the key-operated lock is transmitted across the space between the door and the supporting frame or threshold of the door in which the bolt setting mechanism is installed. Therefore, the key can be used to lock or unlock the door in all normal circumstances, and, without special setting of the emergency mechanism, the latter will always be set for automatic operation in the mere course of locking the door.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section showing diagrammatically an arrangement of locking mechanism applied to doors swingable on vertical axes; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of transmission elements for the locking mechanism and with portions shown in vertical section taken substantially along the line II--II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line III-III of Fig. 5, and including a fragmentary vertical section of a portion of a door, and with elements of locking mechanism shown in side elevation; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the'"line IV-IV of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a plan of operating elements of lock operating mechanism.

In practicing the invention a plurality of lock operating mechanisms l0 `are mounted in wall structure I2 in which a door opening I4 is provided for receiving a plurality of doors l5. Conventional hinges I6 mounted in frame supports I8, which are included in the wall structure, carry the doors for swinging movement about vertical axes.

A treadle 20 is provided at such location as to be walked upon by persons leaving or entering a building. A hinge connection 2l secures the inner or rear end of the treadle to a stationary support 23, such as a floor, and the outer or front end of the treadle has an angle member 24 rigidly mounted thereon, as indicated at 25, for the purpose of extending downwardly into contact with one end of a lever 26. An intermediate portion of the lever has a pivotal connection 28 securing it to a bracket 29 that is mounted rigidly upon a stationary housing 30 carried rigidly in the floor structure. The other or longer end of the lever 26 has a pivotal `connection 3l engaging the upper end of a link 32, which extends downwardly and has a similar lower end connection 3'4 securing it pivotally to one end portion of a lever plate 35. A row of gear teeth 36 is formed on the outer end of the lever plate. A bearing stud 38 rigidly mounted in the housing 3l] pivotally supports the lever plate aboutV a horizontal axis and the gear teeth describe an arc drawn about the axis of the bearing stud as a center. An upright coil spring 40 guided upon a vertical post 4l that is secured to the lower floor of the housing is confined under compression between the lower side of the lever` plate 35 and the bottom of the housing for normally maintaining the plate in substantially the position shown in Fig. 3. That is, the lower end of the row of gear teeth 36 is normally disposed slightly above a gear 43 that is rotatably mounted upon a master shaft 45 extending horizontally in bearing relation, as indicated at 46, in opposite Walls of the housing 30. A stop bolt 43 adjustably screw-threaded through the lower portion of the housing 30 serves to limit downward movement of the lever plate 35. Similarly an upper stop 50 forming a part of the bracket 29 serves to limit upward movement of the lever plate 35.

It will be observed that the lever ratios of the lever 26 and lever plate 35 are such that Very little downward movement of the treadle 20 causes sufficient movement of the row of gear teeth 36 to move the gear 43 through an angle of approximately 90 degrees. A tension spring 52 is connected at its opposite ends of the gear 43 and floor of the housing 30, as indicated at 53 and 54, respectively, for the purpose of normally maintaining this gear in the position shown in full lines of Fig. 3. Since the axis of the spring is normally disposed radially with respect to the axis of the gear 43, the position indicated in Fig. 3 is a. dead center position and any rotative movement of the gear in either direction is resisted by the spring which normally tends to return it to such dead center position.

An arcuate slot 56 formed in the gear 43 about the axis of the latter as a center traverses an angle of approximately 90 degrees or slightly in excess thereof, and receives slidably therein a horizontal pin 60 which is rigidly mounted upon a cam arm 6| and is disposed parallel to the axis of the shaft 45. The master shaft 45 rigidly supports the cam arm adjacent the relatively rotatable gear 43.

The cam arm 6| also rigidly supports a bolt actuating pin 62 which extends horizontally from the side thereof opposite that on which the pin 66 is mounted and is spaced radially from the axis of the shaft 45 a greater distance than the Din 60.

A vertically slidable bolt 65 has a horizontal slot 68 formed in its lower portion which includes lateral extensions 69 and in which the pin 62 is loosely tted. The upper portion of the bolt is slide/ble vertically in a guide formed in the upper portion of the housing 30. Movement of the cam arm 6| alternately in opposite directions through an angle of approximately 90 degrees vertically actuates the bolt 65 to and from locked position. In moving the bolt downwardly from its locked position, the pins and 62 are shifted from their upper positions (Fig. 3); that is, by actuating the treadle 2i! the gear 43 is rotated approximately 90 degrees during which rotation lthe end wall of the slot 56 engages the pin 65 to move it through the angle of approximately 90 degrees, thereby lowering or unlocking the bolt 65. Upon release of the treadle the gear 43, under inuence of the spring 40, will be rotated back to its normal position, but the pin 6D will remain stationary temporarily in idling relation in the slot 56 as the gear returns to its normal position. In this position of the elements, operation of the treadle 20 doesl not aifect the bolt $5 because the slotted portion of the gear 43 can move 90 degrees in a clockwise direction and return without operating the pin 60.

In order to move the bolt to its locked position the gear 43 must be rotated in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3). During this movement the pin 66 is engaged by the other end wall 2 of the slot 55 and is moved through an angle of 90 degrees to its upper position While the pin 52 also operates in the slot 68 to to move the bolt 55 to its upper or locked position. This locking operation is accomplished independently of the treadle mechanism by a segmental gear 'i5 which has a peripheral gear segment 16 formed upon a suiiicient extent along its circumference to insure rotation of the gear 43 through an angle of 90 degrees. Normally the gear segment T6 is disposed immediately adjacent the gear 43, but not in Contact therewith, to permit independent rotation of the latter.

The segmental gear l5 is rotatably mounted upon a bearing stud forming a part of a bracket 8| that is rigidly mounted upon the housing wall by welding or any other conventional expedient. The segmental gear i5 also includes bevel gear segment 84, which meshes with a similar bevel gear segment 85 formed upon a disk 65. The latter is rotatably mounted upon a bearing stud 9i forming a. part of a bracket 92 which is rigidly mounted upon the wall of the housing 39.

The disk 5i) includes a flat peripheral section 94 disposed adjacent the bevel gear segment 85. In the unlocked position of the mechanism the flat section lies substantially flush with the oor level which, as shown in Fig. 4, is deiined by the upper portion of the housing. It is to be noted that the gear segment 'I6 is drawn on a greater radius than the gear 43 and also that the bevel gear segment S5 is drawn on a greater radius than the bevel gear segment 84. Therefore, the disk 9E? can be rotated through an angle of less than degrees and still insure actuation of the gear 43 through a full 90 degree angle.

A lug formed as a rigid part of the disk 9D is fianked by radial notches 96, one of which forms a space between the flat section 94 and the lug, the latter of which extends farther radially than the nat section.

A lug actuating dog |00 is pivotally mounted upon a pin lill, which is supported transversely through anges |62 of each door l0. 'I'he dog ill also has a horizontal pin |06 rigidly mounted therein for engagement in a vertical slot |01 formed' in a horizontal movable bolt ||0 of a conventional lock I l2. Mechanism of a lock is so well known that it is not necessary to describe it in connection with the operation of the device here described. Sufce it to say that the lock is operable in an ordinary manner to move the bolt i i! to and from the positions indicated in Fig. 4.

Beginning from a normal unlocked position, the bolt 65 which is movable to and from locked position between the flanges |62 of the door, the bolt I6 is moved to the left (Fig. 4) and one arm |5 of the dog strikes a corner ||6 of the disk to move the latter in a counterclockwise direction until such arm slides from the corner. Then another arm ||8 of the dog strikes a corner H9 of the lug S5 and continues moving the disk until it has rotated through an angle suiiicient to transmit through the gear elements 85, 84, and 16, a rotative movement of approximately 90 degrees to the gear 43 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3). Such action, by reason of the resulting actuation of the cam arm 6| and its pin 62, will move the bolt 65 to its locked position between the anges |02 of the door. After the gear segment 16 has been operated and has passed the gear 43 so as to be out of contact with the latter, the spring 52 returns the gear 43 to its normal position.

If an emergency arises on the inner side of the door, a person stepping upon the treadle 20 will cause actuation of the row of teeth 36 into contact with the gear 43 to release the bolt 65. Although the dog and lug 95 of the disk still remain in the position occupied by them when the treadle was operated, there is suicient clearance between them to permit them to move relatively upon opening the door. Therefore it is to be understood that the dog |00 and disk 00 do not, themselves, resist the opening of the door, but are primarily instrumentalities for actuating the bolt 65 into and out of locked relation independently of the operation of the treadle 20.

Even when the lug v95 is disposed between the arms and H8 of the dog, after the treadle has been operated to unlock the bolt 65, the bolt ||0 can still be actuated to relock and set the mechanism preparatory for again releasing the bolt 65 by actuation of the treadle. Such operation is accomplished by rst actuating the bolt ||0 to the right (Fig. 4) to its full line position for the purpose of moving the gear segment 16 to the position shown in full lines of Fig. 3. However, during this action the gear 43 turns in a clockwise direction, but merely idles because the bolt 65 is already in its unlocked position. 'I'he bolt lill is then again actuated in the opposite direction (to the left in Fig. 4). This time the gear 43 will move in a counterclockwise direction and will move the bolt B5 to its locked position between the flanges of the door. The mechanism is thus set for emergency operation by the treadle 20 or it can be unlocked by operating the lock I2.

In applying the invention to two or more doors, such as the swinging type of doors shown in Fig. 1, the upper and lower shafts 45 extend horizontally through a plurality of' the upper and lower housings 30 in the manner shown and described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 and 5. These shafts have bearing support, as indicated at |20, in frame members |2| disposed beyond the hinging portion of the door where upper and lower crank arms |22, which are parallel and of the same length, are rigidly mounted on the respective shafts. The outer ends of the crank arms |22 have pivotal connections |24 securing them to opposite ends of an upright rod |25. A separate treadle 20 can be provided for each of the mechanisms |0 below the lower portions of the doors. However, it is to be understood that in connection with companion swinging doors, one of the treadles 20 can extend over two of the mechanisms and operate them as a unit since the mechanisms and treadles operate identically in each case. However, it is also to be understood that no treadle is required for the upper mechanisms which are operated synchronously with the lower mechanisms by virtue of the crank arm and rod connections between the upper and lower shafts 45.' The entire set of operating elements, including the lock ||2, is incorporated in each of the upper and lower mechanisms I0. However, under certain circumstances, it is practicable to omit the crank arms |22 and upright rod |25, or the upper mechanisms can be left in unlocked relation. Under such conditions, only the lower mechanisms are operated, since all the mechanisms will remain unlocked until reset by operating the lock ||2.

Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Locking mechanism comprising a master shaft, bearing means for supporting the shaft, a bolt actuator mounted rigidly on and extending laterally from the shaft, a member mounted rotatably on the shaft and having a lost motion connection to the actuator to permit relative rotation through a predetermined angle between said actuator and member, emergency means movable into and out 0f engagement with said member to operate the bolt actuator, and boltsetting means movable into and out of engagement with said member to operate the bolt actuator independently of the emergency means.

2. In a door structure, a treadle mountable on one side of the door structure, means for pivotally supporting the treadle, a locking bolt movable into locked relation with the door structure, a lock mounted in the door, gea-ring connecting the treadle to the locking bolt and responsive to operation of the treadle to move the bolt out of locked relation with the door, and gearing operatively connecting the lock to the bolt for manually moving the latter to and from locked relation with the door.

3. In a swinging door structure, a treadle disposed on one side of the threshold of the door structure, a bolt movable into locked relation with the door structure, gearing operatively connected to the bolt and to the treadle and responsive to operation of the latter to actuate the bolt only when the latter is in locked relation to the door, a bolt actuating mechanism mounted in the swinging door structure, a second gearing operatively connected to said bolt and to said bolt actuating mechanism and responsive to actuation of the latter to move said bolt to and from locked relation to the door structure independently of the operation of the treadle.

4. In a locking mechanism for a door, a rotatable shaft having an arm secured rigidly thereto and extending substantially radially therefrom, means for rotatably supporting the shaft, a gear mounted rotatably on the shaft adjacent the arm, a lost motion connection between the gear and arm to permit relative rotation thereof through a predetermined angle, a locking bolt connected to the arm and movable to and from a locked position in response to rotation of the arm with the shaft, a treadle mechanism operatively engageable with the gear to operate the locking bolt in response to a person treading on said mechanism, and a bolt operating mechanism engageable with the gear and operable to lock and unlock said bolt independently of the treadle mechanism.

5. In a locking mechanism for a door, a rotatable shait having an arm secured rigidly thereto and extending substantially radially therefrom, pins extending rigidly from opposite sides of the arm and substantially parallel to the shaft, a gear rotatably mounted upon the shaft and having an arcuate slot in which one of the pins is operable to eiect a lost motion connection between the gear and shaft, a locking bolt having a slotted portion in which the other pin is operable in camming relation to move the bolt into and out of locked position, a treadle mechanism operatively engageable with the gear to actuate the locking bolt in response to a person treading on said mechanism, and bolt operating mechanism engageable with the gear and operable to lock said bolt independently of the treadle mechanism.

6. In a locking mechanism for a door, a, rotatable shaft having an arm secured rigidly thereto and extending substantially radially therefrom, pins extending from opposite sides of the arm and substantially parallel to the shaft, a gear rotatably mounted upon the shaft and having arcuate slot in which one of the pins is operable to effect a lost motion connection between the gear and the shaft, means for yieldably resisting rotation of the gear, a locking bolt having a. slotted end portion in Which the other pin is operable in camming relation to move the bolt into and out of locked position, a treadle mechanism normally out of contact with the gear and movable into contact with the latter in response to the treading of a person on said mechanism to actuate the bolt from its locked position, means for returning the treadle to its unoperative position without moving the bolt, and a bolt operating mechanism normally out of Contact with the gear and movable into contact with the latter to move the bolt into and out of locked position independently of the treadle mechanism.

7. In a door locking mechanism, a shaft, bearing supports for the shaft, guiding means, a bolt slidable in said means into and out of locked relation to lock and unlock the door, a bolt actuator mounted rigidly on and extending laterally from the shaft and operatively connected to the bolt for actuating the latter, a member rotatably mounted on the shaft and having a lost motion connection to the actuator to permit relative rotation through a predetermined angle between said actuator and member, emergency means movable into and out of engagement with said member to operate the bolt actuator, and setting means movable into and out of engagement with said member to operate the bolt actuator independently of the emergency means.

8. In a door locking mechanism, a shaft, bearing supports for the shaft, guiding means, a bolt slidable in said means into and out of locked relation to lock and unlock the door, a bolt actuator mounted rigidly on and extending laterally from the shaft and operatively connected to the bolt for actuating the latter, a member rotatably mounted on the shaft and having a lost motion connection to the actuator to permit relative rotation through a predetermined angle between said member and actuator, emergency means movable in one direction into engagement with said member to operate the bolt actuator in a boltl unlocking action and movable in the opposite direction out of engagement with said member Without'affecting the bolt actuator, and setting means engageable with said member and movable in opposite directions to move the bolt actuator in bolt locking and bolt unlocking operations.

ROBERT A. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Balch Mar. '7, 1944 Number 

